Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-10-28
OUR NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOURS.


spoke OF her | had begun 10 imagine that
There was really something dp,graceful con.
neeied with her She c He'd her 'un.ortun-
ate" aud spoke 81 her miserable clrcum.
stances and her sad position" until found
myself wondering whether, after al, she had
not done well in keeping hc retired. Dut the
iaets OF the case were very simple the dis
grace was merely poyert' aud helpcssness-
Two great ev Is in the eyes Of such as Mrs.
Evans
I Mr.. Evans had hut one sister; she WAS
many years younger thin himself. She lived
with Inn, aud continued TO do 20 after his
marriage with the stately LAZY VINO bore his
name She was pretty loving girl, this
Miss Evans, and her brother's home was not
very happy one for her IL became still
less so after her fair youthful face had at
uscted the attention OF Mr.. Simpson, "A re-
ued dysaiter "A man Of great wealth, but
Without one charm 10 toucn the heart OF n
Young girl q i, cross, i'll favored, and course
-such WAS the Kind of husband Mrs. Evans
lrged upon her sistcr-n law ! coud well
understand the persecution aud misery the
grl endured; hut She enc, Il It ali by running
away WITH poor ensign In marching regl-
ment. Her husband was ordered abroad one
year alter the marriage Tie was obliged 10
leave his young wife behind hun; but he
ranged FOR her TO reioin him when her baby
should b. old enough for 10 take it to India.
They were how Yer, never To meet again on
earth. The poor wife died when her lit e
laughter was born, and M Evans was com
PEELED to take charge Of the helpless little
babe. His wife consented after much grumb-
ing and little Marion was taken 10 the home
ner poor Young mother had so lately left |
could not rtlraiu FROM weeping when |
tought Of The loveless, joyless life of that
poor child. No mothers gentle hand had
touched her; her whole life had been one
series OF sights. She was never paced on
terms OF equality with her cousins; as soon
sshe was OH enough 10 work, she became a
Kind OF drudge 20 them. aud so saved them
the expense 81 "A maid. As years passed on
ard her ptten face grew in beauty they be-
gan To dislike h'r. Oae or Two persons had
admired her immensely, and her aunt To
whom all such praises were a. bitter as gall,
resolved 10 keep her quite out Of all society.
VI Marion's father they had not heard for
many years. During her infancy he had
written manv times. His last letter begged
OF the fHnily To take every care OF her-tO
love and cher sh her "A, t,tolsh she were their
own--and when he returned he would amply
repay them. That WAS eleven years back;
Since then they had heard no word OF or from
him.
One day called at No Il and was fortunate
enough To find Marion alone. She was ar
ranging the drawing room: the three ladies'
were out She was rather shy at first, but in
q few minutes We were quite friendly. Her
hmdity wore away, and | was enchanted
with her. She had quick, lively fancy. a
wonderful z IL OF repartee, musical laugh
That cheered one to hear. She was not at all
the same < ri ind seen before Better than
all that liked her good principle and loyalty.
Not one word did she breathe against her
aunt or cousins. She sd d nothing either OF
,T,seFses 10 show that she was loncl, ami neg
VNlectes | saw that she was OF true and
loyal nature. | loved her for IL. | learned
her name--Nlarion Branscomb and noticed
that when ! alluded 10 that evening on which
my brother Ina seen her for tie first time,
her fair young az grew rosy red
Invited Mrs. Evans aut her aaugh ers to
large evening party, and begged them to
allow Marion 10 come. Mrs Evans demurred
for some tim, and at last most reluctantly
consented Gerald was delighted when he
heard thar Maroon was 90 De one ~ our guests.
Once or twice, IN her auA's absence, / had
, seD'her IN the garden, aa,i The day | he'd se-
mred til.s pleasure FOR her I saw her again,
and told her She was com ~ 81 see me. /
shall never forget hcr ecstasy % delight
"A real party, Ms FIzrtraidl' sac cried
shave never seen one even. Oh. how happy
Ishall bc"
Her uncr, she told me few DAYS after
wards, lai BOUGHT her beautiful white In
dian muslin dress, and cluster of couvolyuH
Tor beer hair.
81 do not think shall know myself" She
cred naivtly Il dream about the party
every Night. | never can get it out of my
rsnd. Something viii happen 10 d,appoint
ne, am afraid, if tniuk 50 uncn OF it,"
Nothing IS likely o. Aappen," / said,
touched by the sweet, W stfu lace uplfted to
mne
Nothing could exceed the warmth OF the
friendship the three ladies displayed towards
me. ! saw plainly that Mrs. Evans had re-
8 lived upon marrying one of her daughters to
my brother. When alone with me- she ex-
tolled their virtues until l knew them by
han Arabela was the one specially de-
aligned for the conquest She would timidly
irculre after my b.other's heath, aud then
wgh gently.
do you know" Miss Fitzgerald" she said
me one day, al think your brother is the
hndsomest man have ever seen" Then,
kyctng to be ashamed OF her childish sim
city, she added, do not tell him what |
Fave said or 1 shall never look him In the
face again"
lGbe dill not appear very delighted though
when assured her that would do no such
thing. She had hoped to be- leased and raj
led She did not know how thoroughly I
WIS accustomed to be wood for my brothers.
ke.
The siege bad begun In good earnest Ara
Ia had resumed pensive look. and her
b,hsr aud sister evinced the greatest tender
.s aud sympathy for her. Gerald aud l
ne Invited several times for quiet even
y when ihe beautiful Marion did not APP
n aud no mention was mad, OF her; but
,be merest acct ent In the world, Arabela
sft kalone with my brother. ! do not
a. whether he remarked it-he never named
4 me; but | smiled to myself when /
at u the waste OF time.
he morning OF our party saw Gerald
the greatest possible pains with a